Masked Avenger Studios

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WDCC Mickey's Christmas Carol (back view addition 7/5/08)

Monday, June 16, 2008

The Pumpkin King and Behemoth!

Coming out this holiday season to celebrate the film Nightmare Before Christmas' 15th anniversary is Enesco's latest Walt Disney Classics Collection numbered limited edition piece which, if I do say so myself, not only prominently features Behemoth the character, but is quite a behemoth! I pulled out all the stops on this one to add as much detail as possible without making it gaudy. If you study the piece and the film sequence (attached below) carefully, you'll see I've folded in a number of the film's introduction's key moments and elements up through the moment when The Pumpkin King (the costumed Jack Skellington) swallows the fire. The four pumpkins impaled on the fenced wall's spear-like stakes, the creepy hand grasping about from a gutter drain, face like porch light, frolicking rats and architectural motifs all add to the mise en scene.

I've included numerous photos so you can enjoy the piece from its many different angles. The attached concept drawings began as a simplified version of what ultimately became the final sculpt, which is titled "All Hail the Pumpkin King." From the "what could have been" department is an alternative design of just the Pumpkin King propped up in a grave-like setting as you first see him floating toward the camera when the film begins.

The piece will be available in fall 2008 at the Disney parks and WDCC dealers. It was manufactured in a unique combination of porcelain, pewter, metal, metal wire, rope and resin. See more details and the color version at the Duckman website. Hope it helps your procession into your holiday season this year!

Sunday, June 08, 2008

The Sergio, in bronze!

Last year I sculpted "The Sergio" Award for CAPS (Comics Art Professional Society), shown here at the foundry where it was cast in bronze. The "Sergio" was designed by, named after and based on a caricature of artista Sergio Aragones, and is presented once a year at the CAPS annual banquet to honor distinguished artisans in our field. The first recipient was Jack Davis; the second one went to Stan Lee. Señor Sergio Aragones himself has also received an honorary award, as he was also a CAPS' founders. CAPS is a great artist-uniting organization whose members meet the second Thursday night of the month in Burbank. Photo credit to CAPS member, colleague and all around good guy Chad Frye.